Monday, March 19, 2007

Olifants River is the biggest river flowing through the Kruger National Park (KNP) [1]. This river is faced with a huge depletion of water content and extinction of its assets. This is due to irrigation, pollution, abstraction and other uses, as it is not raining much in the low Veld for the past three years, all these reasons have caused the decreased in the runoff of this river and it was stopped flowing twice [2].

There are about two million people who are depending on the Olifants River for their survival. There dams which are built along this river and most of these dams are mainly used for primary water supply and irrigation purposes [1].The serious water quality deterioration in the Olifants is mainly caused by mining activities and power stations scattered across the basin. Mining activities and industrial activities are the major sources of pollution. Pollution by high metals and high silts loads are the main concern for conservation and have contributed to the disappearance of five fish species in the river [1].

In KNP the Olifants River is divided into different pools. The pools are naturally made where the river is too deep. As the water is deteriorating animals like hippos tend to stay in the pools as they need more water which can cover up the whole bodies. The hippos have been living and defecating in the pools producing an excessive quality of dung. As the dung decomposes it removes oxygen the water and this causes the fish to suffocate [3]. According to Dr Thomas Gyedu –Ababio, who is Kruger’s Rivers manager, at least five hundred dead species have been found on the banks of the pool after the birds have helped themselves with some of the fishes. Fish species found include catfish, yellow fish and tilapia [3].

There is a huge argument at stake between the arms of the government and the South African National parks (SANParks) [3]. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWARF) are proposing to build a 21-storey dam on the Olifants River. DWARF plans to start building the R4 billion De Hoop dam on a tributary of the Olifants River [3]. The main reason for this dam will be to feed the mining interest and agriculture. De Hoop dam will depend on the Steelpoort River and Steelpoort is the major tributary feeding the Olifants [3]. This idea is having the negative impact on the Olifants which is a major supplier of the water in KNP. Olifants is depending on Steelpoort for water and if De Hoop dam is built then the Olifants will suffer especially during the dry season. The hippos are already struggling with the little water and fishes are already dying out, this will only lead to the death of the Olifants River.

The drying of the Olifants will also have the negative effect on tourism, wildlife and concession areas in Kruger [4]. There are tourists who came to Kruger specifically for fishing, they pay the entrance fee and also the fishing permit which is good for the economic point in KNP but if this river runs dry, and such tourists will no longer visit Kruger. As Olifants is feeding both KNP and Mozambique, the building of the dam can have some political critics. Ecotourism is very important in South Africa as it makes it a better country to visit. Instead of killing the Olifants River it can be a wise idea for DEAT and DWARF to support in helping the Olifants River fight for its life rather than building dams which is in return killing the river.